Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
To continue our conversation about education: a “school of the future” was created in Moscow Lyceum #1502 -
a unique laboratory, where kids can feel like real inventors and implement all of their ideas, even the most imaginary ones, to life.
Our journalist, Andrey Sintsov found the place where future scientists are taught and trained for Skolkovo, the Silicon Valley of Russia.
They are only seventeen years old, but they already think big:
“How to conserve energy?”, “How to create an innovative model?”
The ball is rolling… the ball rolls into the car…
car starts moving… photo finish… the fan turns on…
then there is a ship… dominos… and the final part….
and the ENTER key on the laptop is pressed automatically!
We improvised, and as ideas came up, we put them on the board and turned them into experimental projects.
In this innovative laboratory students can create various inventions themselves.
For example with the help of a microchip and a flute you can bring this musical instrument to life.
This is how it happens: you pull the lever, press the button, and here we go, it plays!
In this new laboratory, which was donated to the lyceum by a large western company, you can do almost anything.
Anyone from a prestigious science research university would be envious to own a tool like this engraving laser-cutter, for instance.
They can make so many things - a body shape for their device, or other design elements.
Their hands are eager to work: some students created a mock-up model of a “smart” house,
while others are thinking how to conserve energy in a subway with the help of a simple turnstile.
And these students decided to create a car that brings belongings to its owner. Simple but useful!
There are two light signals on the bottom of this car that prevent the car from falling.
When they light up, the car’s wheels start to turn.
With a learning environment like that, not only do you want to go to school, you want to run there!
Even while on their summer break, during the grand opening of the lab, these future scientists, engineers and programmers continued to create and innovate.
In my Physics classes, which I teach, I usually give students a task to solve and they have to stay within the restrictions of this task to fulfill it.
Here in the lab, however, we give them a tool and tell them it can do this and that.
They ask: “Can it do this?” and the answer is “Yes, it probably can, try it out.” And then the students start to create.
More than 700 kids will start their school year at Moscow Lyceum #1502 on September 1st,
but the school officials already know how they are going to bring innovation to every student, even those who are not intending to invent anything in the future.